Trial Goes To Jury

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Trial Goes To Jury

POTTSVILLE — A jury in Schuylkill County is deliberating the fate of a man accused of killing another person by tying him to a tree.

The jury started deliberating in the homicide case Thursday afternoon in Pottsville.

Closing arguments were heard by the jury as defense and prosecution attorneys had their last attempt to make their case.

Keith Reber walked into the Schuylkill County courthouse knowing a jury will decide his fate.

“Mr. Reber, any thoughts going into this?”
“No, sir.”

Reber is accused of killing Bryan Smith in May of 2012. Police say Reber tied Smith to a tree as punishment for ransacking the home of Reber’s girlfriend. Smith’s body was found still tied up in a secluded area on Reber’s property near Schuylkill Haven.

Investigators say Smith had a toxic level of methamphetamine and other drugs in his system. That, coupled with being tied up and the stress of being restrained, killed Smith.

Reber contends he wanted Smith to think about the ransacking and had not intended to kill.